Letters to the Editor for March 16

Reader finds candidate claims troubling

I write in response to two letters from Candidates for State Representative in the 101st District. I believe both letters were at best misleading.

In his letter, Jeff Griffith claimed he was an “outsider.” Griffith is as entrenched in local politics as any failed politician can be. He currently serves as a local member of the Republican Committee. In the past he was treasurer of this Committee under two separate chairpersons. Additionally, he ran for – and lost – an attempt to serve on the State Republican Committee. His attempt to portray himself a newcomer to the politics is simply not true, and he is trying to label himself as something he is not.

The letter written by Frank Ryan was also troubling. Ryan wants voters to believe he alone is THE answer to the looming pension issue. Our pension problem existed for well over a decade. The idea that Mr. Ryan could stride onto the House floor, automatically take control, and immediately fix such a complicated and deep-seeded problem is naïve and disingenuous. Such arrogance would only prevent him from achieving results in Harrisburg, and already he commented he would only run for one term.

The facts are stubborn things. Griffith and Ryan have both run for office before. Both men have already run for countywide political office and lost. Griffith can say Harrisburg is filled with "broken people" all he wants. In doing so, he only insults the legislative careers of Mauree Gingrich and Mike Folmer. Sounds like "big talk" from a "perennial candidate" to me.

- Dale Nelson, South Annville

There are irreparable consequences to electing Trump

According to Webster's dictionary the definition of fascism is: "a system of government by dictatorship, belligerent nationalism, racism, militarism, etc." Before blindly voting for a "non-establishment candidate" please thoroughly consider the consequences of voting for the candidate as revealed by his words and actions, and the irreparable consequences these could do to our country and the world.

I find it frightening how much Trump's actions and words reflect a Fascism mentality. For example, Trump recently voiced a desire for arresting all protesters at his rallies and previously referred to the Chinese government as strong for the Tiananmen Square massacre response in moving quickly to put down a riot. Our government is founded on freedom of speech and religion, something the Republican Party considers very important. Substitute Muslim for Jew and you have Trump persecuting Muslims purely on the basis of their religion and nationality, similar to Hitler’s scapegoating all Jews for Germany's problems.

Opposition to "being politically correct" doesn't justify the opposite extreme of being rude, crude and antagonistic toward those of differing views. As head of his own company Trump could be a belligerent dictator, but our government wasn't founded to function that way. Diplomacy is essential for bipartisanship and accomplishing the resolution of problems facing our country and the world.

Trump talks about his policies helping Americans get decent wages, yet despite his promises he can't magically make that happen, and his own company put profit above decent wagers by hiring the cheapest foreign laborers. Trump filed for business bankruptcy thereby passing on the consequences of his financial irresponsibility to others he owed the money. He also tried to use eminent domain to obtain private property to build a parking lot for his business. His past actions demonstrated no qualms about manipulating laws for his own benefit, as opposed to concern for others. A person's integrity is proven through one's past actions, and not empty promises that in reality are impossible to achieve.

Also please consider if wild claims like making Mexico pay for building the wall to keep out illegal immigrants is something he can actually accomplish. Trump is not God and he can't make other countries do something they can't afford just because he that promises he can.

Integrity and character are essential qualities for a good leader. If you consider yourself an American who believes in God, please prayerfully consider which candidates are actually living the Judaea/Christian values you and they profess, and then vote accordingly. The future of our country and the world may depend on your carefully considered vote.